Bar B Que and Beer Tucked Away in the Live Music Capital of the World

Originally published by moi April 20, 2010 for Uptake.com.

Apr 20, 2010 7:02 – By: Jeremybanas

I used to live in Austin. I still visit a few times a year. Heck, when I lived there I used to visit! What with Austin City Limits, Freetail bats, the capital and more live music than you could shake stick at, who wouldn’t want to come here?

Austin is an incredible town. Almost an oasis in the middle of an otherwise craft beer starved state. When I first moved to Texas, it was slim pickings with beer. Sure, you had the Waterloo Brewing Company and they were great. You had the Celis Brewing Company, however they were eventually bought by beer giant Miller and eventually closed (their beer is now brewed by Michigan Brewing). Times they have changed though. While many people still head to Austin for the great weather, a visit to Lance Armstrong’s bike shop ‘Mellow Johnny’s’, the music, conventions and eclectic art culture, those who also want to make a stop for a good craft beer, can do so here in Austin, Texas. Yes, Austin Texas

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Texas is very slowly gaining ground on what lovingly craft brewed beers it can get, despite the challenges many craft brewers face with liquor laws in Texas. When the laws in the mid 90’s changed, allowing the existence of brewpubs, many sprouted up. One of these of these was Uncle Bill’s Brew and Que. When they opened, they opened with experience. brewer Brian Peters brought vast experience with him, having help start the successful Live Oak Brewing Co in 1997.

Uncle Billy’s is definitely all Texas and more important, all Austin. This place is amazing, I’m not going to lie. When you walk in, you immediately get a feeling of comfort, of Texas hospitality. The decor reminds me of cross between an old mill in the Rocky Mountains and a Texas roadhouse. The outside features a great wide open patio with a lot of room large or small groups. You’ll even be treated to live music (I know, you’re shocked..) a few days a week.

The inside is just as cool. Same theme with the decor, creating a great atmosphere to sit, enjoy a meal and have a brew. What’s great, is this is a restaurant for the whole family. Plenty of food options for everyone, especially those under 12. The kiddos and I met up with my sister there last month during the ever so fun SXSW extravaganza and I even ran into a fellow brother in craft beer: PJ Hoberman. The whole family loved it! The boys had Chicken Tenders, Fried Pickles and burgers, while the rest of gorged on some great Texas Bar B Que. I had the Brisket, potato salad and one their signature brews.

Uncle Billy’s has been around for only a few years, but has gained a little bit of a following. Much of this has to do with brewer Brian Peters. Brian has been brewing for years. Starting out as many do as a homebrewer who turned his passion into a career. Their website says Brian’s passion for beer began at the ripe old age of…12! He began homebrewing after college, landed in Austin and helped found the Live Oak brewing Co in 1997. Ten years later he’s brewing away at Uncle Billy’s.

They usually have four to five regular beers with several rotational. I had a seasonal IPA of theirs, appropriately called the Zombie IPA. Quite nice. Definitely worth the visit.

If you find yourself in Austin, make sure to stop by the Capital building for a tour, say hi to the bats, grab a listen to some live music and stop by Uncle Billy’s.